Euphony
Definition:
Harmonious combination or succession of agreeable sounds; pleasing smooth effect to the ear
Examples:
FROST
“The Tuft of Flowers”
But as I said it, swift there passed me by
On noiseless wing a bewildered butterfly, Seeking with memories grown dim o’er night Some resting flower of yesterday’s delight. Effect:
An image of tranquility and solitude is evident through the description of a “noiseless” butterfly and a “resting flower.” Euphony is used to reiterate the sense of serenity with quiet and smooth sounds created by the repeating “s” and further established by the apostrophe in “o’er” to avoid the harsh sounding ‘v’. The flow of words and sounds corresponds to the silence and innocent image of an unguarded open field being explored by Frost. The pleasing sounds match the butterfly’s motion as being light and carefree.
SHAKESPEARE King Lear Cordelia: The jewels of our father, withwashed eyes…
But yet, alas, stood I within his grace,
I would prefer him to a better place. Effect:
Shakespeare uses euphony in Cordelia’s lines to match her pureness and kindness as her words are much softer and sweeter than those of her sisters’. The soft “w” and rhyming of “grace” and “place” add to the effect of a musical flow of words that is satisfying on the ear. This creates a lighter tone and in the context of the play, heavily contrasts her lines with the rude demanding lines of her sisters that follow.
The words cacophony and euphony themselves, embody their respective meanings. The “ph” sound in euphony creates a musical sound that flows easily while the repeating hard “c” sound is displeasing to the ear and forces a hiatus between syllables.
Definition:
Harmonious combination or succession of agreeable sounds; pleasing smooth effect to the ear
Examples:
FROST
“The Tuft of Flowers”
But as I said it, swift there passed me by
On noiseless wing a bewildered butterfly,
Seeking with memories grown dim o’er night
Some resting flower of yesterday’s delight.
Effect:
An image of tranquility and solitude is evident through the description of a “noiseless” butterfly and a “resting flower.” Euphony is used to reiterate the sense of serenity with quiet and smooth sounds created by the repeating “s” and further established by the apostrophe in “o’er” to avoid the harsh sounding ‘v’. The flow of words and sounds corresponds to the silence and innocent image of an unguarded open field being explored by Frost. The pleasing sounds match the butterfly’s motion as being light and carefree.
SHAKESPEARE
King Lear
Cordelia: The jewels of our father, with washed eyes…
But yet, alas, stood I within his grace,
I would prefer him to a better place.
Effect:
Shakespeare uses euphony in Cordelia’s lines to match her pureness and kindness as her words are much softer and sweeter than those of her sisters’. The soft “w” and rhyming of “grace” and “place” add to the effect of a musical flow of words that is satisfying on the ear. This creates a lighter tone and in the context of the play, heavily contrasts her lines with the rude demanding lines of her sisters that follow.
The words cacophony and euphony themselves, embody their respective meanings. The “ph” sound in euphony creates a musical sound that flows easily while the repeating hard “c” sound is displeasing to the ear and forces a hiatus between syllables.
Page by Felicia Liu